Shays of the Diamond & Caldor Railway

Over the course of its 50 years of operation, the Diamond & Caldor owned a total of 9 Shays.  Seven of these Shays were purchased new by the D&C and were used in regular service.  The other two were purchased second hand from other railroads and were seldom, if ever, used and are rarely seen in the photographic record of the D&C.

Shay #2- Purchased new by the D&C.  It was the first of many Shays the railway would own.  It was a 3 cylinder, 2 truck locomotive and originally came equipped to burn wood.  Lima Locomotive Works sn863.  Scrapped.

Shay #3- Purchased new by the D&C.  This was the second Shay purchased and was basically a copy of Shay #2.  While on loan to the Pino Grande in Camino, Shay #3 was slightly toasted in an engine house fire which destroyed the structure.  Lima Locomotive Works sn905.  Scrapped in the 1930's-40's.  Supplied parts to Shay #4.

Shay #4- Purchased new by the D&C in 1907.  This was the last 2 truck Shay purchased new by the D&C.  It is also the only surviving D&C Shay.  Shay #4 had the longest life of any of the D&C Shays, operating nearly the entire life of the railroad.  Lima Locomotive Works sn1896.  She was donated to El Dorado County when the railroad was abandoned in 1953.

Shay #5-  Purchased used by the D&C.  Formerly Patterson & Western #5.  This Shay was never actually, at least to our knowledge, used by the D&C.  Nonetheless, it held the number five spot.  Lima Locomotive Works sn2617.  Scrapped.

Shay #6- Purchased new by the D&C.  This was the first 3 truck Shay on the D&C.  Lima Locomotive Works sn2153.  Scrapped in 1953.

Shay #7- Purchased new by the D&C.  The second 3 truck Shay on the D&C.  This locomotive has gained fame for falling through the Steel Bridge, with many well-known spectacular photographs of the event.  Lima Locomotive Works sn2522.  Scrapped in 1953.

Shay #8- Purchased new by the D&C.  The last light-weight 3 truck Shay purchased by the D&C.  Lima Locomotive Works sn2921.  Scrapped in 1953.

Shay #9?- Purchased used by the D&C.  This Shay was the smallest Shay ever used on the line.  It was a class A Shay, meaning it only had 2 cylinders.  It was too light for logging duty and used only briefly.  Lima Locomotive Works sn2842.  Scrapped

Shay #10- Purchased new by the D&C.  The largest and last Shay on the D&C.  In response to the restructuring of operations after the Caldor mill fire, Shay # 10 was ordered from Lima to haul heavy log trains to the new Diamond Springs mill.  This place was formerly held by Shay #4, which was then moved to yard switching in Diamond Springs.  Lima Locomotive Works sn3252.  Scrapped in 1953?